Seattle Times sports readers sound off

Mariners

Give Montero a second chance

Demoting Jesus Montero to Class AAA is a terrible move. I see a young man who could play baseball but played the hardest position in the game. Don’t penalize and humiliate him by demoting him. Manager Eric Wedge is a former catcher who could help this kid.

Any player who can light up a clubhouse like Montero, hit 15 home runs and show up every day deserves a second chance. Several players should be sent down before Montero. How many chances are you going to give Franklin Gutierrez and Dustin Ackley?

– Jim McDonald, Auburn

Column on Montero harsh, critical

While there’s no denying Jesus Montero has had his share of problems, the column by Jerry Brewer (“A position that was an out-and-out problem,” Friday) was unnecessarily harsh and critical. Can we expect more such articles on the other Mariners who can’t seem to hit, catch, or throw the baseball?

– John Christensen, Edmonds

Finally taking pride in something

Is it just me, or do the Mariners actually pride themselves on being the worst run-scoring team in the American League?

– Tony Snorteland, Suquamish

Seahawks

Show offending players the door

Know or go. If players do not know what is right, then let them go.

That motto is what should be required of the Seahawks players who practice an immature life style that is an insult to teammates who work and live intelligently.

Players who get arrested, are put in jail and/or given citations for inappropriate behavior do not belong on the team. No second chances. Coach Pete Carroll is not paid to be a parent.

– Gail Hoover, Redmond

Suspensions are disgraceful to team, sport

With the national sports media having a feeding frenzy on the number of drug-related suspensions given to Seahawks players, it’s time for players to hear this message:

We hold you and the coaches in high regard and appreciate your achievements to make the Seahawks a force to be reckoned with. You have made the winds and rain bearable in the long winter months, but with that comes a responsibility to Seattle and the Northwest that you represent. It’s embarrassing, disgraceful, in fact, to all of us to be called cheaters. Not only do you reflect badly on your teammates, and yourself, you bring disgrace to the sport.

It’s not September yet, so there is time to re-evaluate your priorities, hold the line and make us proud by winning with honor and sportsmanship.

– Kip and Judy Goozee

Peyton Siva

Leave writer alone, address UW issues

Don’t see how Mr. Parson’s (“Backhanded kudos from Louisville fan,” Backtalk, May 19) could twist Mr. Whitley’s letter to the sports editor the previous week about Peyton Siva (“Seattle product a total class act,” Backtalk, May 12) and doubt the writer’s sincerity. It seems to me that he had nothing but praise for Seattle.

Siva went to Louisville to play for a team contending for an NCAA basketball championship, unlike Washington. Can’t blame him. Leave Mr. Whitley alone and address local the issue of talented local players going to schools other than UW.

– Michael Lee, Auburn

NBA

Hate Stern? Now look in mirror

For the life of me, I’ve been trying to figure out all the pent-up animosity toward NBA Commissioner David Stern in Seattle. If you can get past the obvious, the guy’s probably a lot like me and you. If that’s not frightening enough, you might want to consider bypassing the mirror altogether.

– Creig Hamstad, Kenmore

Despite rejection, there’s still hope

Seattle loses again! That’s the way the ball bounced, but it was a good effort by Chris Hansen to try to bring the NBA back to Seattle. It just proved unrealistic to the NBA. I look forward to our new team some day!

– Gary Sutherland, Seattle

Hockey

Seattle shouldn’t get NHL either

I understand that there is a possible attempt to get an NHL franchise in Seattle. I’m a Canadian and a huge hockey fan (or is that redundant), and the health of our league is critically important because weasel Commissioner Gary Bettman put franchises in the wrong places.

Nothing personal, but there is no bloody way Seattle should get a franchise. That there is some built-in rivalry is not even close to a reason. Get an American Hockey League franchise, and then we’ll see how that works.

– Mark Steffich, Mission, B.C.

Send us your backtalk: Letters bearing real names, addresses and telephone numbers for verification are considered for publication. Please limit letters to 125 words or less. They are subject to editing and become the property of The Times. Fax them to 206-493-0934, or mail to: Backtalk, Seattle Times Sports, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111. Or email to: sports@seattletimes.com

Want to be a reader contributor to The Seattle Times’ Take 2 blog? Email your original, previously unpublished work or proposal to Sports Editor Don Shelton at dshelton@seattletimes.com or sports@seattletimes.com. Not all submissions can be published. The Times reserves the right to edit and publish any submissions online and/or in print.

Have something to say?

Want to be a reader contributor to The Seattle Times’ Take 2 blog? Email your original, previously unpublished work or proposal to Sports Editor Don Shelton at dshelton@seattletimes.com or sports@seattletimes.com. Not all submissions can be published. The Times reserves the right to edit and publish any submissions online and/or in print.